THE ENLIGHTENED VOICE
#43 | NOV. 2023
CAL I F O R N I A
FEATURING
THE HARVEST ISSUE Burr’s Place in Calaveras County, CA.
F RE E / L E A F M AGA Z I N E S . COM
THE THRILL OF THE PHENO HUNT // pg. 22-25
WILD LEAF FARMS // pg. 26-27
FOODOO FARM // pg. 30-31
BURR’S PLACE // pg. 34-35 INDEPENDENT CANNABIS JOURNALISM SINCE 2010
350+ PUFFS: PER FULL CHARGE ODORLESS: NO STRESS, NO MESS 500mAH: UNRIVALED BATTERY CAPACITY TASTES: BANANA & CREAM
RECHARGEABLE: SAFETY ON/OFF BUTTON
FEELS: COMFORTING & ENERGETIC HELPS: STRESS & DEPRESSION
DAYTIME NIGHTTIME ANYTIME
TASTES: EARTHY & PINEY FEELS: RELAXING & SOOTHING HELPS: ANXIETY & STRESS
TASTES: ZESTY & LEMON FEELS: UPLIFTING & HAPPY HELPS: PAIN & FATIGUE
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NOV. 2023
issue
#43
THE HARVEST ISSUE
CAL I F O R N I A
22
THE THRILL OF THE HUNT
GOLDEN STATE GREENS SAN DIEGO | SHOP REVIEW
10
SANDY HUFFAKER
CHRIS ROMAINE
GROW TOURS
26
WILD LEAF FARMS BRIAN MALIN
12
COURTESY
30 34
STONER OWNER
FOODOO FARM
BURR’S PLACE
07 08 10 12 14 16 20 22 26 30 34 36 38
EDITOR’S NOTE BUDTENDER Q&A SHOP REVIEW STONER OWNER COOKING WITH CANNABIS CONCENTRATE OF THE MONTH STRAIN OF THE MONTH THE THRILL OF THE HUNT WILD LEAF FARMS FOODOO FARM BURR’S PLACE QUEST GLASS STONEY BALONEY
NOV. 2023
leafMAGAZINES.com
ERIK NUGSHOTS
VITAL GARDEN SUPPLY
COURTESY
CHRIS ROMAINE
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E S TA B L I S H E D 2 0 1 0
T H E E N L I G H T E N E D VO I C E
N O RT H W E S T L E A F / O R EG O N L E A F / A L AS KA L E A F / M A RY L A N D L E A F / CA L I F O R N I A L E A F / N O RT H E AS T L E A F / U TA H L E A F
A B O U T T H E C OV E R Sunset blossoms over sun-ripened fields at Burr’s Place @burrsplace, where co-owner Ryan Carlton spent the waning moments of the day racing through the rows of 15-foot-tall plants with a ladder, trying to get the perfect shot – ending up capturing the magical moment you see on the cover of this year’s Harvest Issue. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Calaveras County, California, this family-ownedand-operated organic farm soaks up the golden hour … the perfect way to end a harvest day. Be sure to check out our other markets’ Harvest Issues for a look at Cannabis around the country! PHOTO COURTESY BURR’S PLACE
CONTRIBUTORS
WES ABNEY C E O & F O U N D E R wes@leafmagazines.com
WES ABNEY, FEATURES
MIKE RICKER O P E R AT I N G PA R T N E R
BOBBY BLACK, DESIGN + FEATURES
ricker@leafmagazines.com | advertising opportunities
TOM BOWERS C H I E F O P E R AT I N G O F F I C E R tom@leafmagazines.com
JOSHUA BOULET, ILLUSTRATION TOM BOWERS, FEATURES AMANDA DAY, FEATURES MAX EARLY. FEATURES
DANIEL BERMAN C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R daniel@leafmagazines.com
MATT JACKSON, FEATURES SANDY HUFFAKER, PHOTOS
BOBBY BLACK STAT E C O N T E N T D I R E C T O R bobbyblack@leafmagazines.com
MEGHAN RIDLEY C O PY E D I T O R meghan@leafmagazines.com
ASHLEY HIRCHERT S O C I A L M E D I A L E A D ashley@leafmagazines.com
SARA MILLS-GAINES, SALES JESSE RAMIREZ, DESIGN
ABNEY
Editor’s Note Thanks for picking up The Harvest Issue of California Leaf! I remember the first time I saw a photo of a Cannabis plant, and it forever changed my perspective on the “drug” that was highly illegal at the time. It was the summer before college started, I was at a dealer's house trying to score some “hydro,” and there was a stack of High Times magazines on his coffee table. I flipped one open and was transfixed by the exotic, almost alien-like beauty of the brightly-colored budding colas. It was the first time I had truly seen the actual plant, as all of my weed buying to that point had involved Jack-in-the-Box parking lots and Ziplock bags of mids. It was in that moment, as I gazed with the wonder usually reserved for the first peeks at a Playboy, that I had an epiphany: The Cannabis plant was beautiful and not anything to be afraid of. A few summers later, I was working on the first issues of Northwest Leaf and my friends and I came into a bunch of rooted clones in red Solo cups. We decided to play a prank on my dad, a high school teacher at the time, and plant a few of the clones in the big outdoor garden full of vegetables and ornamental plants. We took bets and waited for the moment of discovery, but it took a few weeks – until the tops of the distinct plants were reaching beyond their non-psychoactive companions.
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“ALL THESE YEARS LATER, I STILL EXPERIENCE A CHILDLIKE SENSE OF WONDER WALKING THROUGH A CANNABIS GARDEN … ESPECIALLY OUTDOORS. ”
MIKE RICKER, FEATURES MEGHAN RIDLEY, EDITING BRUCE WOLF, PHOTOS LAURIE WOLF, RECIPES KATHERINE WOLF, FEATURES
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When he realized the garden transgression and angrily tore them up, it was a funny and sad moment. This culling shaped my view of Cannabis and drug policy for years to come. The fact that my dad had watered the plants for a few weeks before realizing they were the “wrong” plants, reaffirmed my view that no plant should be illegal and that fears of Cannabis as a harmful drug were dangerously exaggerated. After all, why should we be scared of a plant that makes people feel good? All these years later, I still experience a childlike sense of wonder walking through a Cannabis garden … especially outdoors. Looking up at plants that are taller than my six-foot eyespan feels magical, as the fan leaves and heavy colas dance in the wind and bloom under the sun while waves of terpenes wash over the mind. We must not forget how wonderful it is that we can grow our own medicine, and we should be very appreciative of the farmers who dedicate themselves to this crop. Walking into a dispensary full of bright packaging and competing brands, it’s easy to forget that it all begins when a grower places a seed or clone into dirt, caring and nourishing a baby plant until it reaches harvest. So to all the farmers – those hard workers with dirty fingernails putting in long hours – the Leaf says “thank you.” We celebrate this harvest and the freedom to do so, for we remember a time when simply growing a plant was enough to earn a prison sentence.
-Wes Abney
Have a strain, product, or news tip that the California Leaf staff needs to know about? Email bobbyblack@LeafMagazines.com!
leafMAGAZINES.com
We are creators of targeted, independent Cannabis journalism. Please email us to discuss advertising in the next issue of California Leaf Magazine. We do not sell stories or coverage. We can offer design services and guidance on promoting your company’s medicinal, recreational, commercial or industrial Cannabis business, product or event within our magazine and on our website, leafmagazines.com. Email ricker@leafmagazines.com to start advertising with California Leaf!
CALIFORNIA LEAF |
WES
interview
RAEQUEL LONDON CALIFORNIA LEAF BUDTENDER OF THE MONTH
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE EMBARKING ON YOUR CANNABIS JOURNEY? I retired from school
teaching after being diagnosed with breast cancer. I taught from preschool all the way through the sixth grade. SO, YOU DEALT WITH A LIFECHANGING EVENT? Yes, my mother
was 46 when she passed – so I did my research and learned that I was genetically susceptible, and at 25 began having regular mammograms. Cancer is prevalent in my family. I had a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy, which improved my perspective on life. Now it’s been 10 years since the diagnosis. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? I feel
fabulous, thank you.
YOU TAKE THAT ENERGY INTO THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY AND EMPOWER WOMEN WHO HAVEN’T DISCOVERED THE POWER OF THE PLANT, DON’T YOU? Absolutely. The
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opportunity to share my story and my journey allows me to coach women interested in adding Cannabis to their treatment.
CALMA 1155 N LA BREA AVE. WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA CALMAWESTHOLLYWOOD.COM @CALMA.WESTHOLLYWOOD 10PM-10PM DAILY (323) 498-0035
“I SHINE EVERYWHERE I GO.” NOV. 2023
This breast cancer thriver is the proud mother of a beautiful high school honor student who plans to play lacrosse at Howard University. In 2018, she became a certified Cannabis consultant and recently earned accreditation to become an ADAPT Functional Health and Wellness Coach. Follow her on Instagram @coachraequel.
YOUR SHOP IS ONLY BLOCKS FROM THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME. WHEN IS YOUR STAR GOING TO BE ENSHRINED ON THAT SIDEWALK?
That’s a great question, because it doesn’t have to be on the Hollywood Walk of Fame only – because I shine everywhere I go. And that is a part of the gratitude I feel when I walk in with my amazing husband. I remember that cancer diagnosis … I had to adopt positivity to know that I would claim victory over the situation and continue to be here for my friends and family. WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOUR AMAZINGNESS? Curating Cannabis
products for the community, our clients and our customers, so they can learn how the mother of all herbs can provide them some benefit. That is my mission. IF YOU COULD CLIMB ANY MOUNTAIN, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE? Mt Shasta. I’m originally from
Seattle, and we would always drive down to California to visit cousins. When I learned about the sacredness of Mt. Shasta, it became my favorite mountain. INTERVIEW by MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTO by SARAH HALPERT/CALMA Who’s your favorite budtender? Tell us why! Email nominations to ricker@leafmagazines.com
www.form.co
335 O'Hair Ct., Santa Rosa, CA, 95407 License: C10-0000799-LIC • IG: @outpost_santarosa • Must be 21+ to purchase
shop review
SAN DIEGO
10
IT’S A VIBE leafmagazines.com
O LD SCH O O L
Back in the medical days, this innocuous little place was called Point Loma Patient’s Consumer Co-Op, or PLPCC. A long-winded name, yes – but bursting with heart and soul and notorious for anyone searching for Cannabis around the San Diego Sports Arena. The owner has been in the game for 20 years, wisely evolved with the changing times, and decided on a name that only takes one breath now. In 2015, he was awarded a rec license and became the first shop in America’s Finest City to open its doors. And oh yeah … also became the first federally-awarded LEED-certified Cannabis shop in the world (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). These guys are good.
NOV. 2023
OMNIPRES ENC E
Hit up about any fun event in town and you’ll find the friendly promotions staff reminding everyone of the sticky slogan: “Cannabis You Can Trust.” We all know how imperative education is in destigmatizing the plant, so they’re eager to educate the interested public. It’s about being proactive, not radioactive! And the importance of spreading the love of information for this homebred Cannabis clan means everything. Because of this medical-minded operation, destigmatizing the flower with kindness means leading patients to the proper relief from their symptoms.
FRES H DROPS
When you’ve got this kind of cred, you’re at the top of the list for the freshest drops in town – meaning they take weekly orders, where most shops get them monthly. And since relationships are the name of the game, lo and behold … vendors actually do play favorites! You’ll always find the menu aflame with all the name brands you could ask for. And while you’re here, check out the cool pics from famous visitors like Snoop Dogg, Cheech, and guest budtender Ricky Williams. You might even catch friends from Slightly Stoopid, Fortunate Youth or Dirty Heads stopping by for some music-making magic.
GOLDEN STATE GREENS 3452 Hancock St., San Diego goldenstategreens.com @goldenstategreens_5 Open 7AM-9PM Daily (619) 420-8387
“WHEN YOU’VE GOT THIS KIND OF CRED, YOU’RE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR THE FRESHEST DROPS IN TOWN.”
S TA F F PICKS
FLOWER Tyson 2.0 East Coast Toad (Sabrina) Flora Terra Kush Mints (Hailey) Flora Terra Death Star (Kylah)
JOINTS Punch Rocket Bonzai Tree (Sabrina) Busdowns Live Resin Infused Gelato Cream (Hailey) Cream Of The Crop Diamond Barrel (Kylah)
CARTS Ursa Nova Peanut Butter Breath (Sabrina) Ursa Nova Guava Jelly (Hailey) ABX Sauce Cart Donny Burger (Kylah)
DABS Punch Extracts Live Rosin Gaknana (Sabrina) Arcata Diamonds White Runtz (Hailey) Punch Extracts Badder (Kylah)
EDIBLES CLSICS Blackberry Fire (Sabrina) Smyle Solventless Pina Colada (Hailey) Auntie Aloha Lava Flow (Kylah)
REVIEW by MIKE RICKER @RICKERDJ/CALIFORNIA LEAF | PHOTOS by SANDY HUFFAKER @SANDY_HUFFAKER See more photos from the garden at LeafMagazines.com
stoner owner leafmagazines.com
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VITAL GARDEN
Founded in 2006, Vital Garden Supply is one of the nation’s top organic nutrient companies, offering 20 certified organic products that brought in over 10 million dollars last year. Vital’s customer list includes such award-winning heavyweights as Cookies, Alien Labs, Connected, Humboldt Seed Company, Rebel Grown, 3rd Gen Fam, Massive Creations, and Pacific Reserve, to name a few. Despite having no formal agricultural education, Vital’s founder, Brian Malin, is widely considered one of the Cannabis industry’s top experts on organic cultivation—so much so that when California decided to establish an organic certification program for Cannabis (OCal), it was Malin they called to help them write the rules. In fact, his connoisseur credentials are so respected that he’s been selected as an Emerald Cup Concentrate Judge for three years running. Born in West Virginia and raised in a little town outside of Pittsburgh called Monroeville, he eventually settled in Grass Valley, where the company is currently based. It’s here, at the Vital retail store and headquarters, that we sat down with him to hear his story.
Tell us about how you first started growing Cannabis. I started out with that “How to Grow Cannabis” book by Ed Rosenthal and Mel Frank. I ended up dropping out after my second year of college (at WVU in Morgantown) and took on a position managing a co-op, and I also had my own grow. We would have to crawl through bushes, hide it on the mountainside, and water and harvest at night. I also started making my own compost. Even then, I wanted to be organic. Did you make a living from weed? Nah, just some alternative income. After I left the co-op in around 1991, I became a partner in a reggae club called Nyabinghi Dance Hall that did live music seven nights a week. I helped book bands and did promotions … I did that for a few years.
NOV. 2023
BRIAN MALIN
SUPPLY
thing just didn’t seem realistic. So, after a while, we put it on the market and bought another house on 36 acres. That’s where I really started to perfect my outdoor growing craft. In 2005, I pulled off a fabulous crop of OG Kush and then used the money from that crop to start Vital Garden Supply. What made you start an organic soil/nutrient company? I started really reading the labels of the products I was buying. There’s so much crap in some brands of liquid nutrients on the market, but the label would make you think it’s organic. It’s kind of misleading. That’s what made me want to start Vital. In 2006, we started with just one little warehouse bay. Growers would come in, we’d load up their cars and learn what their needs were, which helped us determine what direction to go with our products. A lot of people were growing with General Hydroponics for a long time and were ready for a change. When we offered them the option to grow with organic products, it was received as a breath of fresh air.
“In 2005, I pulled off a fabulous crop of OG Kush and then used the money from that crop to start Vital Garden Supply.” That sounds fun. It was fun! We had some great shows there, like Burning Spear, Black Uhuru, EekA-Mouse … in 1992, we had an “Emperor Wears No Clothes” opening and Jack [Herer] spoke and signed books. But then there was the day-in-day-out drudgery: the smoky air, late nights, dealing with people not behaving well, and bands with rockstar mentalities. It wasn’t the business for me long term, so I left in around ’96. What did you do after that? After I sold the club, I started a skateboard/snowboard shop called Wall Street Board Exchange. This was in the mid-nineties, so the skateboard industry was making a resurgence. We had a fun little niche of selling skate shoes to college kids. And the whole skateboard industry is basically in San Diego, so I was able to connect with people on the West Coast. What happened with the skate shop? Running the skate shop was fun, but I was also starting to evolve as more of a spiritual person, into more alternative thinking. I’m vegan, and I’ve been really into health food and gardening for a long time, and being in West Virginia wasn’t the greatest place for that. Also, I was still growing and being a big cannabis aficionado all along, so eventually, I was like, “I need to get out of here—California is calling.” Fortunately, there was a camping supply store in town and one day, [the owner] came in and said, “Hey — do you guys want to sell the shop?” And my partner and I were like, “Make us an offer.” So, I sold
it and used that as my exodus from West Virginia. In November 1996, I packed up everything I could fit into my Toyota pickup and my two dogs and I moved to Truckee, California. I didn’t know anybody there, so I hoped for the best. Why Truckee? I picked Truckee because I was able to buy a new house there for about $150 grand, and I was doing a lot of snowboarding at the time. I had a little indoor grow, so I did a bit of weed hustle, and it was pretty lucrative. I was in my mid to late twenties and didn’t have tons of responsibility, so I was able to live that ski bum lifestyle. I look back now, and I’m like, “Man, those were the good old days!” Around that same time, I also met my wife, who was living in New Mexico. We’ve been together ever since— we’ve been married now almost 26 years, and together like 28. But Truckee was really just a stepping stone to help me get to the next level. We eventually sold that place, and in 2000, we bought a house here in Grass Valley on six acres, then another 70 acres to grow on. But over time, the idea of turning those 70 acres into a full-on ranch while raising kids, trying to make a living, and doing the whole weed hustle
With no agriculture schooling, how did you come up with these formulations? Definitely a lot of trial and error. From 2000 to 2005, I tried everything from buying bag soil like Fox Farm, Black Gold, or Pro-Mix, to buying coco and peat and mixing my own soils. Though actually, our soil blends didn’t come out until later. Our first few products were all simple and basic, like Baseline, fish fertilizer, compost, bat guano, and seabird guano. A lot of our products are just single ingredients that I’ve sourced over the years that I felt were up to our standards. From there, it slowly evolved into blending. How has the business evolved? We were consistently getting 20 to 30% steady sales growth every year. Then, in around 2017, the cost of cannabis took a huge dip and the whole industry got completely rattled. Tons of hydro stores closed, a few nutrient companies shut down, several growers went out of business, and we had to tighten our belt. But then the industry came back, and we made it through. What’s most rewarding part of running Vital? I love that I get to cruise around and talk to farmers and people who love cannabis. I love seeing people succeed, and I feel like I’ve helped a lot of people succeed over the years. And most of all, I love smoking product that has been grown with my stuff! Read the full, unabridged interview with Brian on our website at leafmagazines.com. VITALGARDENSUPPLY.COM @VITALGARDENSUPPLY | @ORGANICBRIAN
A Stoner Owner is a Cannabis business owner who has a relationship with the plant. We want to buy and smoke Cannabis from companies that care about their products, employees and the plant. You wouldn’t buy food from a restaurant where the cooks don’t eat in the kitchen, so why buy corporate weed grown by a company only concerned with profits? Stoner Owner approval means a company cares, and we love weed grown with care. Let’s retake our culture and reshape a stigma by honoring those who grow, process and sell the best Cannabis possible. STORY & PHOTOS by BOBBY BLACK @THEBOBBYBLACK
cooking with cannabis
HOLIDAZE COOKIN' BRIE BITES
NOVEMBER HASHTAGS // #LaurieAndMaryJane #DontFearTheEdible #EatYourCannabis #BeKind | #Share #Herb+Spice
SERVES 5, 3 PER PERSON 15 mini frozen phyllo tart cups 2 tablespoons infused butter or oil, melted 8 ounces brie, cut in ¾ inch pieces 1/3 cup raspberry jam slivers of hot chili peppers (optional) 1. Heat oven to 340º F. Place the cups on a sheet pan covered with parchment. Brush the inside of each of the mini tart shells with the melted infused butter. 2. Place a piece of brie in each cup. Place a ½ teaspoon of jam on the cheese. Top with the slivers of pepper. Bake for 7- 9 minutes.
CRANBERRY CLUSTERFUX MAKES 15 CLUSTERS 12 ounce package white chocolate chips ½ cup dried cranberries, chopped if large ½ cup pecans, chopped 2 tablespoons infused butter, melted Shredded coconut (optional) 1. Line a sheet pan with parchment.
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2. Place white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl. Heat on medium power for 1 minute. Remove and stir. Continue melting for 10 second intervals until melted. 3. Add remaining ingredients except coconut. 4. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Sprinkle with coconut. Let set for at least 30 minutes.
ROOTS, SEEDS AND SOUP
leafmagazines.com
SERVES 6
LET’S BEGIN TO GET IN THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT! IT’S NOVEMBER, THERE’S A CHILL IN THE AIR … AND SOME CANNABIS THAT SEEKS TO WARM UP SOME OF YOUR FINEST COOKING PLANS. Last night I made a bunch of canna-butter using Forbidden Fruit, an indica-dominant strain that entices the eyes, treats the nose to tropical mango and grapefruit aromas, and tastes simply sweet and sublime. It’s relaxing but not overly so, with a glow that allows me to be rather productive. I have a recipe for a grapefruit sorbet and I’m thinking that this delightful strain will really make it shine. I’m going to infuse the sugar – it will make a superb palate cleanser. I will keep you posted. Laurie@Laurieandmaryjane.com
2 tablespoons infused oil, butter or infused equivalent 2 cups parsnips, peeled and cut in chunks 1 cup sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks 1 cup carrots, peeled and sliced 1 cup butternut squash, peeled and cut in chunks 1 medium onion, peeled and cut in chunks 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper 6-7 cups vegetable broth 1/3 cup sour cream, Greek yogurt or crema Pepita seeds 1. Heat oven to 340º F. In a large baking dish, combine the vegetables and toss with 2 tablespoons of infused oil, rosemary, salt and pepper. Roast until the vegetables are getting tender, stirring occasionally, approx. 45-50 minutes. 2. Place the vegetables in a large sauce pot and add the vegetable stock. Simmer for about 35 to 40 minutes, stirring a couple of times. 3. Carefully purée the soup with either an immersion or regular blender. Be careful, and if using a regular blender, purée in small batches. Add more vegetable stock if too thick. Heat again a few minutes and divide among 6 bowls. 4. Drizzle sour cream over each bowl. Top with the pepitas.
nov. 2023
RECIPES by LAURIE WOLF @LAURIEANDMARYJANE for LEAF NATION | PHOTOS by BRUCE WOLF @BRUCE_WOLF
LEARN MORE
FOLLOW US @RAYSINFUSEDLEMONADE Marijuana products may be purchased or possessed only by persons 21 or older. This product has intoxicating effects and may be habit-forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. There may be health risks associated with the consumption of this product. For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children.
concentrate THE HARVEST of the month ISSUE
“Blasts of candy and vine-ripened tropical fruit funk.”
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Zelicious Cold Cure Rosin There’s legacy, and then there’s Legacy. LA Family Farms is the latter. Family owned and operated in SoCal since 1995, LAFF has been self-funding and slow-burn scaling its operations since Biggie and Pac had beef. They got their start cultivating OG Kush in the strain’s heyday.
“We had to transfer into exotics when that whole OG movement kind of came to an end,” said Joe Katash, a 49-year-old grower who owns LAFF with Jackie Katash and Morris Katash. In the years since, they’ve grown into the 27,000-square-foot facility they currently operate (which they built out, because they’re also general contractors). Now, nearly 30 years after turning their first lights on, the family pushes mouthwatering flavors ripe with candy and fruit terps out of a fully-vertical operation. Everything with the LAFF name is cultivated, washed, pressed, and rolled in-house. They even have their own distribution and delivery licenses (but no brick and mortar retail). “We are a true single-source facility,” says Joe Katash, adding that they currently have 100 lights’ worth of future fresh frozen on the stalk.
NOV. 2023
Cultivated & Pressed by LA Family Farms
As a self-funded family operation, they have a very small team – where a dedication to preserving the family name, is the game. Their attention to detail and focused control over their product is evident in the end result, every single time. When we tried their Zelicious Cold Cure Rosin, we had no choice but to feature it as our Concentrate of the Month. A heavenly hash of Zkittles x Kush Mints, their resulting lovechild has a bit of a sweet tooth with blasts of candy and vine-ripened tropical fruit funk, plus a heady, vibrant effect. In cold cure rosin form, it’s a gorgeous pale and honey-gold hue, showcasing nostril-tingling aroma. You’ll want to take gulping sips from your rig with this one. The Zelicious is also available in LAFF’s in-house pre-roll, hash hole/ donut line and whole flower. They also offer their own rosin pods, as well as 2g pre-rolls called Fusionz that blend two strains in ratios designed to produce specific flavor combinations and effects, and will be launching a solventless hash edibles line in early 2024. We keep coming back to their cold cure. Keep your eye out for the Zelicious, but don’t sleep on the Zimosa (Zkittles x Mimosa), Tropical Z (Zkittles x Purple Planet) and Pineapple Fanta (Zkittles x Gelato from Greenfire Genetics). They’re also about to launch a flavor called Cinnamon Rolls for late fall … just in time for the holidays.
LOSANGELESFAMILYFARMS.COM | @LA_FAMILY_FARMS
REVIEW & PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM/CALIFORNIA LEAF @CALIFORNIALEAFMAG
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STRAIN OF THE MONTH
CAL I F O R N I A
“IMMEDIATE AND POTENT, THE EUPHORIC EFFECTS USHERED IN SOME DELIGHTFUL DISORIENTATION.”
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20
nov. 2023
Green Dawg Cultivators
candy fumes Howling out of a nondescript industrial park in Sacramento, Green Dawg is one of those IYKYK heavy hitters that makes the city of trees the lowkey City of Tree. We haven’t had one less-than-stellar offering out of this garden, owned and operated by lifelong friends and longtime growers Drew Coggio, Keegan Manning and Eliot Papas. There’s a reason these guys have cultivated some of the most hyped flower drops in the state – they’re artful masters of their craft. When Coggio calls to let you know the Dawgs are dropping some new heat, you know it’s going to be good. We recently checked out two new cultivars from the grow – the brightgreen gas bomb D1 (Sour Dubb x (Do-Si-Dos x Face on Fire)) bred by Always Be Flowering, and the just-released Candy Fumes (Sherbanger x Zkittles) bred by Boston Seed Co and selected from seed by Green Dawg – and began our internal fight over which was going to land the coveted Strain of the Month slot in our annual Harvest Issue.
It was a squeaker, and while we love the old-school East Coast flavor of the D1, we had to go with the absolutely, positively, delectably delicious Candy Fumes. The chunky, trichome-dusted nugs crank up the jar appeal — they’re a rich, deep green with purple highlights and dark orange hairs. We prepped it in our Flower Mill and rolled it up, took a dry pull before lighting it, when something interesting happened…We didn’t want to light it. We sat there, taking dry pulls, inhaling the fresh, uncombusted terpenes – salivary glands cranking into overdrive like we were goofy, drooly mutts. Hints of anise, kiwifruit, savory herbs and electrified-candy, Z-terp top notes permeated the palate. With the J finally sparked, the smooth smoke retained the terpy complexity all the way to the crutch. It was, in short, a GD delight. Immediate and potent, the euphoric effects ushered in some delightful disorientation – the kind of feeling that makes you want to put on the new Zelda game and run around in a dreamlike state. Not sleepy. Simply dreamy. Just before this article went to print, we found out that Candy Fumes won the top dawg Flower Award at our friend Jimi Devine’s TransBay Challenge in Los Angeles. We had to chuckle. Of course it did. A pheno this good from a garden like Green Dawg’s is unstoppable. We can’t wait to see what tree they bark up next. @GREENDAWGCA @GREENDAWGCULTIVATORS 32.4% THC
REVIEW & PHOTO by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM/CALIFORNIA LEAF HAVE A LEAD ON SOME SERIOUS FIRE? EMAIL BOBBYBLACK@LEAFMAGAZINES.COM
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BEN LIND OF HUMBOLDT SEED COMPANY & RAVI DRONKERS OF SENSI SEEDS.
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PREPARING TO EMBARK ON THE PHENO HUNT AT BURR’S PLACE.
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The Leaf joins Humboldt Seed Company for the second leg of their annual pheno hunt event.
REGGAE LEGEND DON CARLOS APPRAISING SOME OF HIS NAMESAKE BUD.
BEN WELCOMES EVERYONE TO THE SECOND LEG OF THE HUNT AT HIS FARM IN SMARTSVILLE.
he three counties in Northern California collectively known as the Emerald Triangle (Humboldt, Mendocino and Trinity) have been the Cannabis cultivation capital of the U.S. (if not the world) for half a century now. Which is why, over the past few years, our annual Harvest Issue has focused almost exclusively on that region. This year, however, we decided it was high time to shift our focus a bit and shine a spotlight on a more up-and-coming Cannabis growing area instead – a region just northwest of Sacramento (including Nevada, Yuba and Calaveras counties, among others) that some have nicknamed the “Golden Triangle” or the “Emerald Dot.” Luckily for us, our good friends at Humboldt Seed Company just so happened to be hosting a huge pheno hunt tour from one “Triangle” to the other, and were kind enough to extend an invitation to the Leaf.
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thethrillof connoisseurs and Cannabis media professionals Lind in Smartsville, then visited Wild Leaf Farms he purpose of this seven-day event from around the world, including “HomeGrow in Penn Valley, Foodoo Farm in Nevada City, and was to visit a number of different TV” hosts Dakota and Quentin from Medellin, ended at Burr’s Place in Mountain Ranch. (Sadly, I farms that were growing HSC’s Colombia, Leon from the Humboldt University was unable to attend the first leg of the tour, but I genetics and help determine which of Berlin, Ravi Dronkers Spaarenberg of Sensi was on hand for the last three days.) individual plants – out of dozens or even Seeds in Amsterdam, and legendary hundreds of plants of the same grow gurus Ed Rosenthal and Jorge cultivar – were the ultimate Among the dozen or so notable attendees on this exclusive, fantasy camp-style junket were prominent cultivators and Cervantes, among many others. cream of the crop. The tour’s first connoisseurs from around the world, including Ravi Dronkers Each day we were all led to the leg began at HSC co-owner Nat Spaarenberg of Sensi Seeds in Amsterdam and legendary grow farms where we were given small Pennington’s farm up in Orleans. gurus Ed Rosenthal and Jorge Cervantes. binders and divided into teams, each From there, it then stopped at Full evaluating a different set of cultivars. Moon Farms in Bridgeville, Casa Some of the strains we were asked to appraise Among the dozen or so notable attendees I Flor in Willits, and ended at Sonoma Hill Farms in included Cali Octane, Don Carlos, Jelly Donuts, Ed was privileged to join on this exclusive, fantasy Petaluma. After a two-day intermission, the tour Rosenthal’s Super High Life, Blueberry Muffin and camp-style junket were prominent cultivators, resumed at the farm of HSC’s other co-owner Ben
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thehunt Garlic Budder. For each cultivar we carefully examined every plant in the group and rated it on a scale of 1-10 based on various criteria – including smell, strength, trichome density, vigor, structure, color and flowering time — recording our opinions on detailed scoresheets. It wasn’t all work, however; throughout the hunt, we were treated to several delicious farm-to-table meals and as many drinks, dabs and doobies as we desired … not to mention a sunny swim sesh at the Yuba River, and grand finale mountaintop party at Burr’s Place that featured a Mediterranean buffet feast, a terpene extraction demo, a seminar on triploids by Cannabis geneticist Richard Philbrook from Dark Heart Nursery, and an intimate live performance by reggae legend Don Carlos of Black Uhuru fame, whose namesake
strain HSC produces. All in all, it was an amazingly amiable and educational adventure. California Leaf would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to Nat, Halle, Ben, Jasmine, and the rest of the HSC crew for all of their hard work and hospitality in organizing and running everything, as well as all of the farms who hosted us and everyone else who lent their time and talents to making this tour so memorable. Check out our feature profiles on the three farms we visited in the Golden Triangle (Wild Leaf Farms, Foodoo Farm and Burr’s Place) in the pages that follow. HUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY.COM @THEHUMBOLDTSEEDCOMPANY
PREVIOUS PAGE, CLOCKWISE SPIRAL FROM TOP LEFT: Hunting at Sonoma Hill Farms; The “welcome” weed bar at Ben’s farm in Smartsville; Halle Pennington appraises a plant’s aroma; Photo opp at Full Moon Farms; Heading in for the hunt at Casa Flor; Ben with sister/Nursery Manager Kathryn (left) and Executive Administrator/life partner Jasmin Salisbury; Weed-themed charcuterie at Wild Leaf Farms; Logging assessment numbers into the scoresheet.
THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE SPIRAL FROM TOP LEFT: A crowd gathers for a twilight buffet dinner at Burr’s Place; Courtney Rodgers of Michigan’s Wide Hippie Genes examines a cultivar at Wild Leaf Farms; Dark Heart Nursery’s Richard Philbrook offers an evening seminar; Don Carlos performs at the finale party at Burr’s; Halle, Ravi, the Leaf’s Tom Bowers, Don Carlos and Nat all celebrate another successful pheno hunt; Nat shows off a thin purple leaf; Outdoor chefs prepare the final feast at Burr’s; Leaf’s Bobby Black hanging with old friends Jorge Cervantes and Ed Rosenthal.
STORY by BOBBY BLACK @THEBOBBYBLACK/CALIFORNIA LEAF See more photos from the garden at LeafMagazines.com
ust a stone’s throw from the tranquil south fork of the Yuba River in Penn Valley, California, lies Wild Leaf Farms – a pheno-menal family farm owned and operated by brothers Jacob and Colby Glass.
Jacob (30) and Colby (26) have been growing Cannabis together for nine years – initially operating under the radar in Grass Valley before moving down here in 2018 and establishing Wild Leaf as an officially licensed business in 2020. Their family has deep roots in the area: the boys were born and raised here, and their grandfather Walter White, who adopted the boys after their mom died in 2003, grew up just down the road. “My parents moved up here in 1954 when I was 11 years old, and I was raised about a quarter mile from here,” White tells us. In fact, he used to visit this farm quite a bit as a child. “I was here a lot,” he continues. “Henry and Alice Magonigal owned the property, and they had a daughter named Lois who taught me how to raise livestock … beef and sheep. We’d shear the sheep here in the barn behind us.” Knowing that his grandsons were looking for a new property to grow on, it seemed like fate when White learned that the cattle ranch he’d spent his youth working Size on had become available after 40,000 square feet a previous sale had fallen (36,400 sq. ft. of fullthrough. Though they were term sun-grown, 3,600 excited to develop the property, sq. ft. of hoop houses adapting to the new terroir was /deps) a challenge at first. Plant Count “The first five years was a 3,000 lot of work, figuring things Employees out,” says Colby. “It’s a lower 1 part-time employee elevation than where we’ve Motto “Family first, grown before … but now we’ve farming second.” kinda figured everything out, so it’s mellowed out.”
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FAMILY BUSINESS: Jacob, his wife Alexandria, their three kids, Grandpa Walter, and Colby.
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For the first three years, they were farming around 10,000 square feet of canopy … but this year, they’ve expanded that footprint to 40,000 square feet – making them Nevada County’s largest licensed Cannabis grow. Their gardens are divided into three sections: the upper “Orchard” section, the lower “Field of Dreams” section, and the greenhouse section. The four hoop houses (three 100-footers and one 60-footer, or 3,600 total square feet) produce two light-dep crops annually. The lower field is a 30,000-square-foot plot that’s home to over 800 full-term beauties planted in tilled rows into the native ground (with “WE SPECIFICALLY some amendments SET THINGS UP LIKE to the soil). Most AN ORCHARD, WITH impressive, however, A LOT OF SPACE is the Orchard – BETWEEN ALL OF featuring 6,400 THE PLANTS...” square feet of sungrown trees averaging 1113 feet in height, all cultivated from feminized seed in cedar wood boxes (cedar being a natural pest preventative) filled with potting soil that are spaced 18 feet apart. “We specifically set things up like an orchard, with a lot of space between all of the plants – so when they got big, we wouldn’t get any shaded spots, and to leave enough space so we can drive the tractor down between ‘em and have room to expand,” Jacob explains. At the time of our visit, they had just over 3,000 plants in the ground, consisting of around 25 different cultivars (predominantly from Humboldt Seed Company or Phinest), including
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Jelly Donuts, Larry Bird, Cali Octane, The Dewz, Almond Mochi and Amaretto Mintz. After harvest, their flower is either sold through their own Wild Leaf brand at local dispensaries, through Highest Health Collective (HHCo), or else processed into concentrates by local partners Purist Extracts. With just one visit to Wild Leaf Farms, it’s easy to see why their motto is “family first, farming second”: while the brothers handle the lion’s share of the work themselves, they admit that they’d never manage it all without the support of Jacob’s wife Alexandria and their three kids who often help with chores and bring meals out to the guys to keep them going. And then there’s grandpa – whose wisdom and expertise they frequently rely upon. “That’s why I stay away,” jokes Grandpa White, “because they put me to work when I come!” All kidding aside, the Glass brothers couldn’t be more happy to be out here working the same land their grandfather once did … but without fear of being busted. “We started the traditional market way, with little hidden gardens spaced out all over the place,” Jacob confesses. “When we finally got this place and were able to [go legal], we said, ‘That’s it – we’re never hiding a single plant from the helicopters, the cops, or anybody ever again. We’re gonna show everybody that flies over exactly what we’re doing and do what we were taught how to do growing up.’ And sure enough, that’s what we’re doing.” “It’s a lot of work,” Colby adds with a smile, “but we can’t complain when this is our office every day.” @WILDLEAFFARMS
STORY by BOBBY BLACK @THEBOBBYBLACK/CALIFORNIA LEAF See more photos from the garden at LeafMagazines.com
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“THEIR OUTDOOR GARDEN F E AT U R E S AROUND 1,200 PLANTS WITH AN AVERAGE HEIGHT OF ABOUT 1 2 F E E T.”
SHINING GARDEN
uring the California Gold Rush of the 19th century, Nevada City drew waves of prospectors hoping to strike it rich – eventually emerging as the gold mining capital of the state. But a century later, a very different wave of people began arriving in the area: not a gold rush, but a green rush. In the late 1960s and early ’70s, when hordes of hippies headed north to the region that would come to be known as the Emerald Triangle, a good portion also migrated here – not in search of riches, but of tranquility, privacy and freedom to pursue passions of alternative spirituality, sustainable living and of course, Cannabis cultivation. And many of those outlaw-hippie-stoner types who came here settled not in Nevada City’s quaint, historic downtown area but up in the San Juan Ridge – an isolated wilderness in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains now known to locals as simply “The Ridge.” Here, we find the second stop on our Golden Triangle pheno hunt tour, Foodoo Farm – a hemp-filled homestead owned and run by longtime “Ridgies” Brian and Barbara Jones.
BARBARA & BRIAN
Though not among the green wave that came to Nevada County half a century ago, Brian’s parents were indeed hippies. As a child, he lived all up and down the West Coast from San Diego to Portland – including the legendary Haight-Ashbury section of San Francisco. “Brian was allowed the freedom to panhandle in Panhandle Park as a five-year-old and attend amazing concerts at the local soup kitchen,” Barbara tells us. “He saw bands like Jefferson Airplane and Big Brother and The Holding Company. In fact, Janis Joplin was a neighbor of his, and he’d brush her hair when she stopped by.” After graduating high school in the early ‘80s, Brian moved to Covelo, California in Mendocino County, where he learned two extremely useful skills: building houses and growing marijuana. Throughout the ‘80s, he set up and ran guerilla grows all across NorCal – in Mendo, Humboldt, Napa and even in Sonoma – where he apparently perfected a technique of hanging grow bags up in the trees to avoid detection by Size Tier one, 10,000 s/f the state’s Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP) enforcement program. Plant Count Barbara, conversely, was born in Michigan and raised 1,200 in Ohio by church-going conservative parents who often Employees chastised her for her “lack of direction.” She eventually 0 (sole proprietors) moved to Sacramento, where she embarked on a “longMotto “’Foodoo’ is term college program” during the mid-‘80s. It was during a family word we this time that she and Brian first met through some mutual created that means friends at a party on the Yuba River in 1986. It wasn’t until ‘putting your best two years later, though – after both had moved to Nevada into whatever you do.’ City and become single – that they became an item. That’s our mantra – “Our first date was pizza and a Grateful Dead show,” that’s what we do.” Barb remembers fondly. >> story continues next page ERIK NUGSHOTS
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organic farm from the “We try to choose a balance get-go. Joking that they of sativas, indicas and “Just say no to ‘cides” hybrids that all develop and (insecticides, pesticides finish at staggering times,” and fungicides), they were their home and planted a vineyard, orchards and she explains. “We’ve done even Sun + Earth Certified several Cannabis gardens. They had their first especially well with their new in 2021. They have the child in 1993 and their second three years later Grass Valley Girl ... it tests at maximum canopy size – a joyous occasion whose celebration was sadly 31% THC and 5.2% terpenes, allowed by the county cut short by some unfortunate news. which is amazing.” (10,000 square feet) and “When our daughter was just three weeks old, Their herb is sold produce two the police showed up at our through their Foodoo Farm crops per year: door to tell me that Brian had label (available at select a light-dep been arrested at one of his dispensaries in L.A. and the crop in the grows up near Yuba County,” Bay) and wholesale to Stone winter and a Barb recounts. Road and others. full outdoor Brian was convicted and When not in the garden, grow over sentenced to two years, but the couple have other pursuits the summer. had his sentence reduced to to keep them busy: Brian still Their outdoor seven months by volunteering works as a general contractor garden for a boot camp-style and has published seven features rehabilitation program in books and two albums of The Boulevard of Dreams...indeed. around 1,200 Lompoc. After his release original music, and Barb is PHOTO BY BOBBY BLACK plants with in 1998, he remained on an activities director at their an average height of about 12 feet. probation for six years. During local library. Plus, in 2019, they signed on as Though they’ve worked with other that time he never got high, producers of the long-running Ridgestock Music genetics providers in the past, this but continued to grow on the and Sustainability Festival … because, as Barb season, their entire crop is grown down-low (under the aegis puts it, “The Ridge loves to party, and we love to using feminized seeds from either of Prop 215) and sell surplus help make the community happy!” Humboldt Seed Company or their flower to local dispensaries. Despite its shortcomings, Brian couldn’t be Plants taking on Fall colors European partner, Sensi Seeds. Once their kids were grown more thankful for the protection Prop 64 has PHOTO BY CHRIS ROMAINE “We have a good relationship with and out of the house, and provided. them,” says Barb. “Shopping for seeds in their Prop 64 was in effect, the couple decided it was “We’ve really come full circle,” he reflects. catalog is like being a kid in a candy store!” finally time to come out of the grow closet. As “I went through the whole evolution as far as The 10 cultivars they’ve chosen to grow this soon as Nevada County approved legal Cannabis growing Cannabis in California … running from season include Blueberry Pancake, Jelly Donutz, cultivation in 2016, they were the first farm to CAMP helicopters and hiding in the bushes and Gazzurple, Garlic Budder, Cali Octane, Don receive a license. all of that, and it’s so much nicer now. Today, I Carlos and Grass Valley Girl, as well as research “We had previously been ‘pot farmers,’ and was sitting on my back porch rolling up a bunch and development strains like Ed Rosenthal’s Super now we were ‘Cannabis farmers,’” Barb jokes. of joints, and there was a helicopter flying over, Bud and a few heritage strains such as Sensi They’ve been growing weed at Foodoo for 32 and I just waved at ‘em. There’s no more hiding, Skunk, Dream Queen and Black Domina. years and have operated as a fully sustainable, and it feels really good.” @FOODOOFARM
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hortly before tying the knot in 1992, the couple purchased the 24-acre piece of undeveloped land that would become Foodoo Farm. Here, they built
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STORY by BOBBY BLACK @THEBOBBYBLACK/CALIFORNIA LEAF See more photos from the garden at LeafMagazines.com
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Size 137 acre property, 2 acres of sungrown canopy Plant Count ~6,000 Employees 12 Motto “Grown with love, from seed to smoke.
SAM THEULE AT WORK
Taste the difference.”
A Place In The Calaveras Clouds riving up to Burr’s Place feels like approaching any weed farm. Winding two-lane roads snake their way through hill and vale, bringing you to a bumpy dirt road until finally, you’re met by the ubiquitous security camera at the nondescript gate. You climb the steep grade, and just at the top, you notice a small sign to the left: “Burr’s Place.”
You crest the hill, and your jaw lands in your lap. You’re met with fields of towering Cannabis, a smattering of farmhouses – and a 360-degree view of Calaveras County wilderness as far as the eye can see. Owners Brett and Page Miller, Ryan Carlton and Adam Kovalchik, live a beautifully blessed life with their friends and cultivation staff on this property, which they’ve worked over the years while expanding it to a respectable two acres of grow canopy on a 130+ acre plot in the middle of a vast Bureau of Land Management wilderness. It’s been a journey to get to this point. And it all starts with a few friends and a dog.
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Co-founder Ryan Carlton and his longtime friend Brett Miller got into cultivation as 20-year-olds in Nevada City, where Miller met Page Grieder, a trimmer in town from Texas. Brett and Page became Brett and Page Miller, and together with Carlton, the Millers honed their craft and built toward a dream of creating a farm and community of their own. “They were on this grow, living in a treehouse,” Carlton said, “and every grow has a feral dog. So Brett and Page ended up raising these puppies, and from this litter they take this one dog and they named it Burr. So Burr the dog was born on that farm in our second year of being in Cannabis.” When the time came to create their dream farm, they knew they needed a brand. They settled on Burr’s Place and moved out to a 5-acre property in Calaveras County.
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Together, the friends and their cultivation crew employ It was the early 2010s, and their dream was regenerative growing practices – where plants thrive in living soil starting to coalesce. But like so often happens, that they have built up over the years, using only organic inputs. fate decided to make them earn it. “Calaveras provides a long, hot and dry summer that allows In September 2015, the Butte Fire came us to push our season into the fall, ripening late-flowering sativa tearing through the heart of the county and strains that may be harder to achieve on the coast,” Carlton said. came knocking at the door of the log cabin, This harvest, they’re pulling down 66 different cultivars – where the Millers lived on the farm. many from their friends and collaborators, including the world“Brett was calling me, and there were renowned Humboldt Seed Company. embers falling out of the sky and landing on “We know that each individual has their own niche on what his deck,” Carlton said. “And he was running they like,” Kovalchik said. “So we want to grow everything. We around stomping them out. Brett and Page want to grow the best gassy strain. We want to grow the best evacuated with their dogs, and there were a piney strain, the best fruity strains.” couple of horses on the Among their favorites are the Orange CreamPop property that had to be from HSC, and they’re really excited about the loaded up on a horse Mountaintop Mints and the Macaroon genetics they trailer … they had to landed on for the 2023 harvest. evacuate in the middle of the night.” T H E F U T U R E F O U N D I N F A M I LY It was a total loss. The Burr’s Place crew has grown over the years, “It burned their whole with a group of as many as 12 workers living on the full season crop in peak land, many with their families. flower. It burned the “When we started the farm in the larger scale, five house, burned a truck, or six of us moved out here that first year to basically burned the chicken coop.” build it and grow it – with no money and only just the The Millers moved back prayer that we would grow and sell the Cannabis to to the farm, living in a pay for it,” Carlton said. truck with a camper. It’s a true family operation. There are nearly half a “They really just held BLUEBERRY dozen kids living on the property as their parents work on,” Carlton said. “And MUFFIN the land. The tight-knit and inviting vibe is palpable. a lot of friends came and “It is very much a village,” Carlton said. helped rebuild.” “We have really deep roots in Cannabis,” Kovalchik added. Together with the help of their community, “We all really love the plant and love farming and love Carlton and the Millers regrouped for a agriculture, love being a community and being out here doing couple of harvests – until Calaveras County what we’re doing.” added insult to injury and banned Cannabis cultivation. THE FUTURE “They were afraid of the trimmigrants,” The Burr’s Place crew hopes that someday, their farm will be Carlton said. “It was crazy. It was like a onean eco-tourism destination. two punch. It was absurd.” Walking up to the “UFO Pad” – the highest peak on the During the ban, all the growers left property, which is also one of the highest peaks as far as the eye Calaveras County – and that’s when their can see – one can’t help but see the vision. Carlton, Kovalchik friend Adam Kovalchik merged his grow, and the Millers dream of putting a pavilion on the peak, maybe One Straw Farm, with Burr’s Place. Working with a large pizza oven, and hosting events. together, they grew it from a 99-plant grow on Enjoying a joint with a 360-degree view from the UFO Pad, as a 5-acre parcel to a 130+ acre plot of land the golden sun sets over the rows of towering Cannabis trees, is that has scaled to around 6,000 plants. an experience that everyone should be able to share. “We both chipped in to buy this property,” For now, it’s a journey only a few of us will be able to make. Kovalchik said, noting they merged their But if the farm family has its way, there will come a day when brands and united behind the Burr’s Place wanderers of all types will wind their way up the wily Calaveras identity. “Burr’s Place carries the best image of County roads, through the gates and up past the Burr’s Place what we’re trying to do, I think, and captures sign, to find themselves gasping at the view from the top. the presence here.” BOBBY BLACK
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“W E WA N T T O GROW EVERYTHING. W E WA N T T O G R O W THE BEST GASSY S T R A I N . W E WA N T TO GROW THE BEST PINEY STRAIN, THE BEST FRUITY S T R A I N S .”
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STORY by TOM BOWERS @CANNABOMBTOM/CALIFORNIA LEAF
glass art spotlight
@QUESTGLASS
Quest Glass
Glass Art by With a burning Quest Glass passion to get x Power Pat behind the flame, @_powerpat Johnny Quest received his first introduction to glassblowing when his mom gave him a Groupon for his 16th birthday to learn from Aaron Tate. At that same glass studio, Quest met Kevin Morris to help him with his initial foray into the glass realm.
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"I am very inspired by the scene as a whole. I have so many talented friends and am constantly finding new glassblowers that ‘wow’ me.”
nov. 2023
Being creative from a young age, Quest had been trying his hand at video editing for FPS games and enjoyed drawing particular glassblowing designs like Arik Krunk and Kevin Howell's wigwags. Fast forward to 2023, and Quest has now carved his lane into the glass game – offering everything from gorgeous pendants with his signature "fleur" design and immaculate hammer pipes including silver fuming and thumbies, to scalloped glassware and his one-of-a-kind "floor perc." This unique creation provides an unparalleled function where the water jets up through four holes through the bottom of the rig – hitting unlike any other piece of glass. "I am very inspired by the scene as a whole. I have so many talented friends and am constantly finding new glassblowers that ‘wow’ me, which stokes me out. Inspirations like James Daschbach, Kevin McCulley, Cesare Toffolo, Mike Raman, Arik Krunk, Yuko Sorte, Davide Fuin, Chris Eberhardt, Chris Carlson and Pat Powers made me the person I am today," said Quest. Quest holds it down in the streetwear industry, offering branded clothing and collaborating with homie Cary @allmyhatsaredead. Additionally, Quest wants to give a big shout-out to Groovy Money and his mom for helping him get to where he is today. "I am grateful to have found this path of glass so early on, and sharing it with people I've admired since I was a kid," said Quest. Keep up with Quest on IG to see where you can find his work next, as he's constantly on the go and has his art regularly featured in renowned glass shows around the globe.
STORY by MAX EARLY @LIFTEDSTARDUST for LEAF NATION | PHOTO by @BOROPHOTOGRAPHER
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UH OH, I’VE CROSSED THE LINE. Boy, am I gonna get my ass kicked now. I stated the opinion that everyone else is thinking, but is too afraid to actually voice … at least openly in public. And the last thing you want to do is belittle the thing to which these irrefutable enthusiasts attach their identity – because if you insult the motorcycle, you insult the person riding it. And that’s a surefire way to get stuck in the gut by a Hell’s Angel, Altamont style. Hey, Harley Rider: I get it. You want people to think you’re a lion in the jungle, that your ear-curdling roar induces tingles of hair-raising fear. And that you just don’t give a fuck what anyone thinks. Which is ironic. Because it would appear that you care very much about what everyone thinks, otherwise your motor would be muffled. Intent on convincing us that you’re unconventional – a rebel, unique, fringe, anti-establishment. It’s just that it’s hard to be persuaded when the company you fiercely endorse had a spreadsheet of over $5 billion in revenue last year. Now, motorcycles are cool. And if it’s not raining, they make an exciting form of transportation. It’s liberating when the sativa-soaked sun shines on your face with the unbridled summer wind sweeping your body while you harness a stout speed machine. And what do I care if your favorite pastime is standing around inspecting one another’s saddles like dogs sniffing their buddy’s backside? To each his own. But could you turn down the volume a little? It’s irritating when your conversation is jolted by a passing DC-10 on the street, that’s all. Note: This never applies to a lady on a Harley. Baddies on bikes are always awesome, no matter what – and have a license to crank their volume any time they feel overcome with the need to express themselves.
nov. 2023
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